Dallas Mavericks Confident They Discovered a Hidden Gem in Ryan Nembhard After Just Three Games in Summer League

The Dallas Mavericks have seen enough.

Three Summer League games. That’s all it took for Ryan Nembhard—an undrafted rookie standing just 5-foot-11—to make his case. And not only to make it, but to close it.

Averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 assists in those three contests, Nembhard impressed Dallas brass to the point they shut him down early, a signal more telling than any stat line. It wasn’t a matter of rest or caution. It was belief.

“We didn’t need to see any more,” Summer League head coach Josh Broghamer said. “He’s shown us exactly who he is: a poised leader, a gritty defender, a connector, and a guy who plays the game the right way. We got a steal.”

For Nembhard, it’s the latest chapter in a basketball life that’s thrived on defying expectations. He’s never had the size, never had the spotlight. But he’s always had the game.

Born into a hoops family, Ryan’s older brother Andrew—now a steady contributor for the Indiana Pacers—paved a trail through Gonzaga and the NBA. Ryan followed that trail, but not as a mere sibling tag-along. He’s forging his own identity. He just took the scenic route.

Beginning his college career at Creighton, Nembhard turned heads early with a mix of vision and toughness. But it was his transfer to Gonzaga that truly elevated his stock. There, under Mark Few’s system, Nembhard didn’t just thrive—he dominated.

In his final collegiate season, Nembhard led the nation in assists and broke the West Coast Conference single-season record with 181 dimes. He orchestrated games like a seasoned conductor, weaving through defenses with deceptive pace, always a step ahead mentally. Pick-and-roll reads, skip passes, pocket deliveries—Nembhard had every tool in his passing bag.

Still, he went undrafted in 2025.

Why?

It’s the same reason he’s been doubted since high school: size. In an NBA increasingly obsessed with versatility and wingspan, a 5-foot-11 point guard—regardless of pedigree—often gets passed over. Literally and figuratively.

But Dallas saw something more. And now, they may have something special.

“Look, we’ve all heard the knock—undersized, not elite athleticism,” Broghamer said. “But the dude plays winning basketball. He understands pace, makes the right reads, and he competes on defense. He’s not afraid of the moment.”

What stood out to the Mavericks wasn’t just Nembhard’s statistical output, but how he got there. His control of tempo. His ability to play both on and off the ball. His leadership without words—his poise, his command.

There’s an old-school savvy to Nembhard’s game, a level of maturity that belies his age. You rarely see him make the same mistake twice. When defenses pressure, he doesn’t speed up. When traps come, he finds the outlet. When the shot clock winds down, he doesn’t panic—he creates.

In Summer League, Nembhard wasn’t flashy, but he was effective. He ran the second unit like a veteran, often finding teammates for clean looks, rotating crisply on defense, and nailing pull-up jumpers with surprising consistency.

It’s those little things—often overlooked by fans—that front offices crave.

And for a Mavericks team ushering in a new era, those things matter more than ever.

With Luka Dončić traded to New York and Kyrie Irving now wearing Clippers blue, the Mavs are entering 2025 with a dramatically different identity. Cooper Flagg is the franchise centerpiece now. Anthony Davis is in the fold. Klay Thompson and D’Angelo Russell bring experience and floor spacing. But behind all the star power, there’s a real need for smart, unselfish, high-IQ glue guys.

Nembhard fits that mold.

He won’t demand touches. He won’t hijack possessions. What he will do is make the game easier for others. Put him next to scorers like Flagg and Thompson, and suddenly, the Mavericks have a second-unit maestro who can keep the offense humming when the stars sit.

That’s not just valuable—it’s essential.

And in today’s NBA, where bench minutes can swing playoff series, having a dependable backup floor general is gold.

Nembhard also brings toughness. Broghamer raved about his defense, saying, “He might be 5-11, but he plays like he’s 6-5. He’s got this chip—this edge. He takes every possession personally.”

That fire, that relentlessness—that’s something you can’t teach. It’s what’s separated undersized guards for decades. From Terrell Brandon to Jameer Nelson to Fred VanVleet, the path is well-worn. Nembhard knows the odds. He welcomes them.

“I’ve always had to earn it,” Nembhard said after his third Summer League game. “Nothing’s ever been handed to me. That’s the way I like it. I don’t want guarantees—I want opportunity.”

He has that now in Dallas.

The Mavericks haven’t guaranteed him a roster spot. Not yet. But pulling him after three games—essentially saying, “we’ve seen enough”—is about as clear a signal as you’ll get in July. They believe. They’re planning. They’re betting.

And it’s not just a heartwarming story. It’s good basketball business.

Undrafted gems are the ultimate asset in today’s salary-cap NBA. They’re cheap, they’re hungry, and if developed correctly, they contribute. Look no further than the Miami Heat’s success with Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Duncan Robinson. Dallas sees that model and wants in.

Nembhard isn’t just a flyer. He’s a project with purpose.

“He’s not your typical rookie,” Mavericks GM Nico Harrison said. “He knows how to run a team. He’s got pro habits already. We’re excited to develop him further.”

The work now shifts behind the scenes. Training camp looms. The preseason will bring tougher tests. But if Summer League was the first exam, Nembhard passed with distinction.

His future with Dallas likely starts on a two-way contract, but don’t be surprised if he cracks the regular-season roster by December. Injuries happen. Depth gets tested. And when the moment comes, Nembhard will be ready.

He always is.

Because this isn’t new for him. It’s not hype. It’s habit.

He’s been outworking doubt since Day One. And now, the Mavericks may have uncovered something real: a hidden gem, still being polished, but already shining under the bright lights of belief.

Ryan Nembhard isn’t here to just be a feel-good story. He’s here to stick.

And Dallas might have just landed their next great point guard story without spending a single draft pick.